10 streets sealed in I-10/1, I-10/4 days after unsealing both sub-sectors.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi and Aamir Yasin

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI -- The district administration has sealed 10streets in two I-10 sub-sectors after nine new Covid-19 cases were detected there.

There have now been 50 cases reported from I-10/1 and I-10/4.

Last week, the administration sealed both sub-sectors entirely because of the prevalence of Covid-19. After residents were inconvenienced, the administration unsealed both sub-sectors on Saturday and decided to seal the three streetsin I-10/4 that hadthe highest number of cases.

On Sunday, another seven streets were sealed after nine more cases were reported.

Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the administration decided to seal streets rather than whole sub-sectors even though cases were reported from different parts of both I-10/1 and I-10/4 because 'almost 30 cases were reported from four streets'.

More Covid-19 cases confirmed from the area

According to district administration documents available with Dawn, streets 31-A, 31-C, 98, 107 and 112 are the five streetssealed in I-10/4. Streets66, 67, 71 and 90 as well as the Umer Shopping Centre have been sealed in I-10/1.

The administration has directed the police, army and Rangers to cordon off areas for public safety.

Mr Shafqaat said the decision to seal both sub-sectors was made after 38 Covid-19 cases were reported there, but this was replaced in pursuit of a 'smart lockdown' policy under which three I-10/4 streets were sealed.

'However, as four cases were reported on Saturday and nine on Sunday, it was decided to seal seven more streets in the sub-sectors,' he said.

Mr Shafqaat said that entry and exit is banned when a street is sealed.

'We usually provide edibles such as vegetables and flour for free, but in some cases people pay for edible items. Once the areas are cleared the streets will be unsealed,' he said.

When asked, he said that nearly two dozen cases are being reported in Islamabad every day.

Covid-19 tally in Rawalpindi reaches 640

Another 35 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Rawalpindi, three patients from the cantonment areas have died and 12 were discharged after recovering on Sunday.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Rawalpindi alone has reached 640, and 36 people have died in the last month.

A 55-year-old man from Dheri Hassanabad who was brought to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on May 2 with symptoms of Covid-19 died early on Sunday.

A 27-year-old resident of Tench Bhatta, who was also brought to...